Chapter 724 — The Innovator's Charisma

" They entered the Tiansheng Academy, and the interior was even more boisterous. Di Yiyue sighed. "I finally understand why you support Emperor's Teacher Jingping and the Yanfeng Emperor—not for power, not for strategy, but for these young people. It is because of these vigorous, spirited young people that you made up your mind to support them. " The Woodcutter Sage nodded.

"We no longer have their vigor and drive. We of the older generation have only our own lives and the skills of a lifetime. We can use our skills and our lives to win time for them, to let them grow. Kaihuang never fought—we can fight on behalf of the Kaihuang Era, until Jingping comes into his own. " Di Yiyue was stunned, then smiled a bitter smile.

"I, too, never fought for the Kaihuang Era.

. . " Shen Mu sought out Old Mother Zhu.

She was leading some scholars in the study of the arts of calculation, having lowered her own status to diligently practice the arts of calculation just like the other scholars, trying to make up for her shortcomings. The one instructing them in the arts of calculation was Dao Master Lin Xuan. Xu Shenghua and his wife were also listening at the side.

Lin Xuan was, after all, a Dao Master, and had also established a Daoist academy; his lectures this time were for the sake of scholarly exchange. After he had come and given lectures, he would invite experts from the Tiansheng Academy to lecture at the Daoist academy, making up for the Daoist academy's deficiencies.

"Master Shen!

" Everyone hurriedly rose to pay their respects. Shen Mu returned the courtesy and said with a smile, "There is no need for such formality, everyone. I was passing through and came to take a look.

Dao Master Lin Xuan, I have written a volume of the Taiwei Calculation Classic. Come and look it over—check it for me.

" Dao Master Lin Xuan hurriedly took it, flipped through two pages, and his expression grew more and more grave. He said in a low voice, "Calculation arts on the microscopic?

" Shen Mu nodded and said, "I deduced the Taiwei Calculation Classic, and then, by means of this calculation classic, deduced the Heavenly Fire Great Dao. " Dao Master Lin Xuan flipped through it at speed, and said with feeling, "Master Shen, this Taiwei Calculation Classic can do far more than deduce the Heavenly Fire Great Dao! You have founded an entire system—and you did not even know it yourself? If one continues to deduce according to this calculation classic, who knows how many calculation arts and divine abilities will be founded!

" Xu Shenghua hastily leaned in, and the two men's heads bumped together as they read the Taiwei Calculation Classic, their expressions growing more and more grave—clearly both had perceived its importance. "The Master always founds a system, and then tosses it aside. " Xu Shenghua shook his head.

"If you were to continue calculating and deriving according to this Taiwei Calculation Classic, you would be far more than a grand master of a generation—you could be called a Sage King!

" Shen Mu was doubtful, and scratched his head. "Is it that important?

I just felt that racking one's brains alone is too tiring. Would it not be better for everyone to calculate together?

" Dao Master Lin Xuan composed himself, put away the Taiwei Calculation Classic, and said, "Brother Xu, this was given to me by Master Shen. My Daoist academy still relies on this calculation classic to make a name for itself and stand on equal footing with the other academies. You cannot snatch it from me!

" Xu Shenghua sneered. "What a coincidence.

I plan to establish a Shangcang Academy, and I too lack something of my own.

" The two glared at each other, eyes wide. Shen Mu said, "Brother Xu, I will write you another copy in a moment. There is no need to quarrel so fiercely over such a small matter. I have another course of study here that needs the Tiansheng Academy to research—namely, the yuan-magnetic divine ability. I would like to ask Granny to lead some scholars accomplished in this field and make this the main direction of attack.

" Old Mother Zhu said in surprise, "The yuan-magnetic divine ability? You mean the earth's magnetic yuan-force—Shen'er wishes to develop this kind of divine ability?

" "Not only the earth's magnetic yuan-force.

" Shen Mu explained, "If it were only the earth's magnetic yuan-force, it would be too simple. There is also yuan-magnetism among the stars and constellations in the heavens. For example, when we ascended to the alien star of the remnant Crimson Brightness clan, we found ourselves drawn by yuan-magnetic force, and had to resist the alien star's yuan-magnetic force in order to fly. This shows that the yuan-magnetism between the stars is also extremely powerful. If it could be developed, it might become an exceedingly formidable system of divine abilities. " Old Mother Zhu's eyes lit up.

"My Daluo Heaven Star-Force Field is somewhat similar to the yuan-magnetic divine ability you speak of. The most convenient place to study the yuan-magnetic divine ability is where the Taihuang Heaven, Luofu Heaven, and the Waste Ruins converge. The yuan-magnetism there is complex—most suitable for research! " Shen Mu inwardly praised her cleverness and continued, "You have cultivated the yuan-magnetic divine ability in the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Scripture, so you are precisely suited to research in this area.

Researching the yuan-magnetic divine ability also requires no small accomplishment in the arts of calculation. Granny, how has your accomplishment in the arts of calculation improved these days? On the road I carefully worked through the yuan-magnetic force field and wrote down several equations. Take a look first and see if you can understand them. " Xu Shenghua's curiosity was stirred again, and he leaned in, saying, "Brother Shen, might you let me have a look?

" Shen Mu took out several sheets of paper.

Old Mother Zhu looked for a long while, worked out the meaning of the runes in the equations, and said with a smile, "I can just barely understand them, but I will still need the help of some experts in the arts of calculation. " Xu Shenghua understood them as well, and praised them: "Ingeniously conceived. Using these equations of yours, one can deduce the rudimentary forms of a dozen or so basic yuan-magnetic runes.

Crude as they are, once there is a direction, the yuan-magnetic divine ability can continue to be carried forward and expanded. Why do you not research it yourself, Brother Shen? If you continued your research, perhaps you could add an entire great system of divine abilities to heaven and earth, and the Great Dao of heaven and earth itself would change because of it! " Shen Mu sighed and said, "Where would I find so much time? You all create it, and I will simply learn it. " Everyone's eyes went wide.

This fellow had clearly found one research direction after another, had even created research methods, and could clearly have achieved great things—could even have attained the accomplishment of a Sage King. Yet he was precisely unwilling to continue his research, and instead tossed these trivial matters to them for them to complete.

"Brother Xu, does your Shangcang Academy intend to research the Taiwei Calculation Classic, or the yuan-magnetic divine ability?

" Dao Master Lin Xuan chuckled. "You cannot occupy both directions, surely? You must choose one path. " Xu Shenghua was caught in a dilemma.

Of the two directions, the Taiwei Calculation Classic was somewhat more important, and continuing to research it would yield greater achievements, while the yuan-magnetic divine ability could create a magnificent system of yuan-magnetic divine abilities from nothing.

Although its achievements would not be as great as those of the Taiwei Calculation Classic, it was by no means insignificant—making it hard for him to choose!